Project 52 ~ Week 42 {True Beauty}

I really wanted to avoid the cliche this week.  Truly, I did.

I hate cliches.  They irritate me, and I don't like being irritated with myself.  It puts me in a bad mood and makes me unhappy, and everyone knows that when Mama's not happy....you know....so I really wanted to avoid the cliche.

The cliche being that as a mom, when I hear the words True Beauty, I immediately think,

 "Oh.  My kids." 

The beauty of a child.  They beauty of a child's laugh.  The beauty of a child's innocence. 

Yadda Yadda Yadda.

And I reeaaally wanted to avoid that. 

I had several other options for my image this week. 

The true beauty of a woman's face.

 

The true beauty of nature.

The true beauty of a colorful harvest.

Ultimately, though...what I found beautiful about these two is not just that they're my kids.

 
The beauty is in their relationship.  That face to face, heart to heart, lean close to me and I'll tell you something wonderful that I won't tell anyone else because you're my sister and I know I'll love you forever kind of thing.

I just always want to remember them this way.

I want them to remember themselves this way.

Maybe it's because I'm recovering from a blow-up with my own brother.  And it wasn't so much a blow-up as it was a misunderstanding. 

I said something and he misunderstood it...and blew up. 

In my analysis of the misunderstanding, I can see that we have grown so far apart from this moment of connection, that the playfulness is gone from us.  We are adults.  We are parents.  We are protectors of our families.  We're not little kids sharing secrets on a park bench anymore. 

And that makes me sad. 

He'll always be my brother.  He'll always be the first love of my life.  He'll always be the first best friend that I ever had. 

But, it's not the same.  It's careful.  It's politically correct.  It's grown up. 

And no matter how great being a grown up can be, it's just never as beautiful as when your best friend, the love of your life, pulls you close and whispers something wonderful in your ear and you know you'll love him forever.

Truly.

Project 52 ~ Week 41 {Architecture}

I've been down for the count this week, recovering from my massive date with the Nyquil aisle.  I haven't really had a head for Architecture or whatever.

I had the opportunity yesterday to take this shot, so I took it.  And all I have to say about it is this:

Isn't it funny that something so big can look so small next to something so naturally huge?

That's all.

I'm moving over to the Theraflu aisle.  If you need me or anything.....

The Difference Between....

Prince Farming and The Queen of the World:

Prince Farming says,  

"Can you can all these tomatoes?  Can you freeze all these grapes?  I'm bringing home a box of apples.  Can you figure out how to save them?  We've got an acre of cucumbers.  How many batches of pickles can you make?"

The Queen of the World says,  

"When is this friggin' garden going to die?"

Varisty and Little League:

Varsity kids don't like to look at the camera

Little League kids ham it up

The 4th Grader and the Kindergartener

The 4th Grader over-emphasizes a cough and his need to sneeze so the nurse will send him home.

The Kindergartener sobs and cries when she has to stay home because of a fever and sore throat that "...everyone else is going but me!"

The Hunk and The Beauty Queen

The Hunk, who looks delicious naturally, even in the pouring down rain with two days of stubble on his chin, says,

"$5 for this magazine!  What do you need this for?  What is in here that you actually read?"

The Beauty Queen, who needs all the help she can get, says,

"Hey!  I only buy it when I like the cover, and every now and then I'd like to know how to have sexed up hair and get make-up tips from a pro...so.. you know... freeze it."

The Yearbook Lady and The Newspaper Lady

The Yearbook Lady says,

"Give me everything you have.  This is time sensitive.  I can't look at thumbnails and a watermark.  I don't have time to sift through everything."

The Newspaper Lady says,

"I love all your photos.  You almost never see that kind of shot from a game.  We'd love to use it in our paper and give you credit."

The Mom and The Girlie Girl

The Mom says,

"Of course, that Halloween Headband counts as a hat for Crazy Hat Day.  Anything you wear on your head is a hat."

The Girlie Girl says,

"What about clips?  What about bobby pins?  Hmmmm?  Those aren't hats, Mom."

...and then the Mom rolls her eyes and walks away, muttering "Punk" under her breath....

Facebook Friends and Real Friends

Facebook Friends click "Like" every now and then and make some silly comment on what you post, but feel awkward when they actually see you in person.

Real Friends click "Like" every now and then and make some silly comment on what you post, but they check in when they haven't heard from you in a while and leave you messages like, "You're one of my favorites," or "I'd really like to have tea with you, " even when they live two states away.

To you, your friends, and all who surround you ~

May the forces that unite you be stronger than those that make you different.

Love,

LL.

I Do Have A Few More Things....

My post last Friday was a little....I don't know....weird for me.  Felt a little random.  Felt a little abrasive at times.  Not my public comfort zone.  Not that I'm not always thinking that way, I just don't usually stick it out on my front porch.

That being said, I do have a few more things:

It's All About The Lighting

I love twinkle lights.  Those little ones on the green string that you put up at Christmas time.  I have some on a tree in my living room and I turn them on all the time.  I like the glow.  I like the festiveness.  The instant sparkle they add to my mood.  I like the twinkle.  There's only 50 on the strand, so it's not like it's excessive or anything.  I mean, it's not a Christmas tree.

I went to turn them on the other evening while Prince Charming and I were settling in to watch TV, and he says

"What are you doing?  Why are you turning those on?"

"I like them.  They're nice.  It's romaaaantic..."

"Oh."

"You don't like these, do you?"

"I think they're fine....just not when they're on.".......

Swear to God....

Slow Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic and Basil with Feta on Toasted Baguette Slices vs. College Football Saturday

"Oh!  That's good!"

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah.  That's great!"

"Good.  I'm glad.  The way to a man's heart and all that...."

"Huh?....Oh no.  I meant the game.....but....the tomatoes are good, too."

I'm not making this up....

That's The Kid's Story and He's Stickin' To It

"What is that juice cup doing on the floor?"

"It's not."

"I can see it right there.  It's spilled."

"Oh, I was sitting there when I was drinking it."

"Why were you drinking juice on the floor?"

"I wasn't!"

Seriously.....

Evidently, Nothing Sexy Ever Starts With....

"Do I need to brush my teeth first?"

Nag, nag, nag...

Dang, I Love October

That's all.


Dang, I Love Shooting Football

That's all there, too.

Dang, I Love Prince Charming

For taking me to the pumpkin patch on the first day of October so I could play in the pumpkins with my lens, and for sitting with Girlie Girl in the stands while she wasn't feeling well, so I could play on the football field with my lens...and for....well, just being my love.  I do like to have some fun with him some times, but as princes go, he's top drawer.


Now, go enjoy October.  It's just a big slice of awesome...and so are you!!!

Love, Love~

Double L